Catholics must learn to resist their popes — even Pope Francis
Though not technically on interfaith per se, Dougherty’s article has important implications for interfaith relations. He speaks and writes on the subtleties related to membership in a religious institution (in this case the Catholic Church), and the responsibilities of each person relating to our life of faith.
This is especially pertinent in high central authority religions, of which Catholicism is an important example. The conversation is important. Dougherty writes with respect and knowledge, highlighting distinctions in religious life and experience that are vital to know, especially in arenas in which religious bodies converse towards ideals of harmony and cooperation.
Party membership and church membership are not alike at all. Party bids its members to spin, minimize, and explain away supposed contradictions between one party leader and the next, to hide deviations by party leaders from the party platform. Because party members cannot know the outcome of the next election, crimes, oversight, or simple mismanagement by the party leader are treated as much less serious offenses to the cause than the scandal that would come from admitting or publicizing them in the sight of the opposing party.
Unlike a party, the church already knows the outcome of its election; the blessed reign, the accursed don’t. The church already has victory. And so the church and its believers do not depend on the righteousness of the pope; the papacy and the church depend on the righteousness of Christ. The Catholic faith teaches that the pope has the same duty to remain constant in the faith as we do, the Holy Spirit doesn’t turn him into an automaton upon his election. If he lies, we must rebuke him in charity. If he fails at something, we should help him. He ain’t just the Catholic heavy, he’s our brother.